"Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed."
-Richard Nixon
Signed December 27, 1973 by Richard Nixon
"The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was written to provide a means for the protection of all endangered and threatened species of life" (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007)
The law was amended in 1978, 1982, and 1988, and stated that any species or subspecies threatened to be endangered would be listed with the Secretary of the Interior, but with marine species the Secretary of Commerce will be notified.
A program was developed for the conservation of threatened and endangered species including the habitats were they live and are found
A species is considered endangered if an area of its range is in danger of extinction.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service of th Department of the Interior
maintains a list of endangered and threatened species
The law requires federal agencies, along with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service, to ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to change the outcome of the continued existence of any listed species or result in the destruction of designated critical habitat of such species
It also prohibits any action that may cause a "taking" of any listed species of endangered fish or wildlife. Along with prohibiting listed species to be imported and exported along with not allowing interstate and foreign commerce.
There are 4 major provisions to this act
Determination of Endangered Species and Threatened Species
Interagency Cooperation
Prohibited Acts
Penalties and Enforcement
There are approximately 1,880 species that are endangered and listed under this law. Of these 1,880 species, 1,310 of the species are found in the United States along with its water.
The federal agencies make sure that the habitats of the endangered or threatened species are protected. The Secretary of the Interior along with the state involved determines the size and area of the habitat that is essential to a species' existence.
The protection of the species includes the prohibition of killing, capturing, importing, exporting, or selling the endangered species.
Also citizen law suit may be filed against a federal project if it harmed the protection of endangered or threatened species.
Snail Darter vs. Tellico Dam: One of the first known cases that dealt with the Endangered Species Act to protect a species along with its habitat.
The Endangered Species Committee was created by the law. The committee gained the authority to exemption under certain conditions. The committee became know as the "God Squad" because it gained the authority to dec
Decide whether a species survived or eliminated.
Blue Poison Dart Frog
The 1982 amendment also said that a species be kept track of for at least 3 years after they were taken off the list.
In 1992, concerns were raised about the social and economic impacts dealing with preservation, and wanted to make changes so that it would be possible to foresee the need to conserve and protect species. This was done by creating partnerships between the state and local governments, industry, individuals, and landowners. The partnerships included active management programs and private species enhancement programs while also including the efforts by the federal government.
An example of an endangered species is the bald eagle. It was removed from the list in 1999 when the breeding pairs increases to a total of 5,800 from a total of 417 in 1963.
Two examples of endangered/threatened species are the Blue Poison Dart Frog and the Pygmy Marmoset which are featured in the pictures.
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
"Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed."
-Richard Nixon